Another year is in the books and like last year, and the year before, it could be argued that it was the best year ever for MMA around the globe. The UFC ended the year with the biggest show in their history Pride built on the success of the past and everything that was old was new again,( Tank Abbot Ken Shamrock). I have compiled a list of the Top Five best list for the year 2002.

Another year is in the books and like last year, and the year before, it could be argued that it was the best year ever for MMA around the globe. The UFC ended the year with the biggest show in their history Pride built on the success of the past and everything that was old was new again,( Tank Abbot Ken Shamrock). I have compiled a list of the Top Five best list for the year 2002. We all have our personal favorite moments from the past year and I have cut the crap and stockpiled the best of the past Year. What will the year 2003 hold for the MMA fans around the world? Nobody knows for sure but one thing is for certain… good things come in fives. Here is part 1 of 5 starting with the top 5 Biggest Upsets of the year and the Top 5 best Submissions of 2002.

Top 5 "Upsets" of the year

# 5 - Hidehiko Yoshida defeats Don Frye
Hidehiko Yoshida’s “WIN” over Royce Gracie in a glorified Jiu Jitsu match at Pride Shockwave was a bad call to say the least and many called his skill into question. Those Skills were again put to the test this time against Don Frye and he answered the challenge with a performance worthy of recognition. Contrary to what some people may believe I don’t believe this fight was fixed and Props go to Yoshida for a fight well fought.

# 4 - Emelianenko Fedor CRUSHES Heath Herring
Fedor had built up a solid reputation in the Rings organization in Japan but when he stepped up to the plate to fight Heath Herring few gave him a chance at defeating the young stud from Texas. Obviously those people including myself were proved wrong and a shot against Nogueira seems assured at some point in 2003.

# 3 - Jake Shields defeats Hayato Sakurai
Sakurai’s stock has fallen immeasurably. Many still believe he has top notch Talent but his recent injuries may hinder him from fighting in top form again. Mr Shields on the other hand looks like he is going up up up.

#2 – Hiroyuki Abe defeats Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira
As unexpected as “Pequeno’s” loss itself, who was at the time considered to be among the top pound for pound fighters in the world, was the manner in which he was vanquished. A knockout that left him unable to continue was as surprising a loss as any this year.

# 1 - Joe son Vs Yusuke Imamura
Joe Son losing to Imamura wasn’t a big upset in itself. Seeing Joe Son coming out to the ring in mascara and a tight G-String with no cup on, was as upsetting as it gets. Some people pointed to the punishment he took from Keith Hackney in their infamous UFC fight as the reason that Joe Son has changed. In light of the evidence it is hard to argue the facts.

Even though they were not MMA bouts honorable mention goes to

Quinton Jackson over Cyril Abidi
Quinton Jackson knocks out K-1 fighter Cyril Abidi in a K-1 Rules fight
Not only does he do it, he did it again in the rematch. Congrats to one of the most entertaining fighters in the world. Cyril Abidi will never live this one down.

Gary Goodridge over Mike Bernardo
Gary Goodridge did us proud and soundly defeated K-1 fighter Mike Bernardo via K.O in their K-1 fight mid year. He along with a few others proved that MMA fighters were well rounded and capable of competing at the highest level of combat sports around the world. All though he did lose the rematch it was an entertaining affair and the count still stands at 1-1. Let’s see if Mike has what it takes to come and fight Gary in a Pride rules fight?

Bob Sapp over Ernesto Hoost X 2
Bob Sapp is a physical specimen to say the least, but few expected thathe would be able to defeat the then 3 time K-1 Champ in a strictly K-1 rules fight. He took his lumps but was able to fend off the talented European and defeat him not once but twice. Hoost eventually went on to win his forth K-1 Championship but did lose in his fight against Sapp again.

Top 5 "Submissions" of 2002

# 5 - Genki Sudo over Leigh Remedios
The speed with which Sudo took the back of Remedios was a sight to behold. Sudo’s slick movement on the ground was too much for the outclassed Remedios. The time it took for Sudo to go from nowhere to sinking in the rear naked choke is akin to the time it takes Tank Abbot to powerslam 26er at the local pub.

# 4 - Frank Mir over Pete Williams
It is a rare site indeed when we see a submission, in a real live fight situation, that we haven’t seen happen before. The armbar has been done, the Triangle has been done, and the rear naked choke hasbeen done before, lets see if this rare breed of arm Kimura makes waves in MMA around the world

# 3 - Matt Serra over Kelly Dullanty
The string of submission that Serra put together in succession was impressive, almost as impressive was Dullanty’s almost Houdini like ability to escape the submissions one after another. In the end though, it was Serra who completed the submission in impressive style.

# 2 - Murilo Bustamante over Matt Lindland twice in one fight
The guillotine submission was made more impressive in the fact thatMurilo actually had two submissions in one fight. I don’t ever recall someone locking in and winning by two submissions in one fight. Due to a blunder by the ref It happened here, and I was impressed.

# 1 - Rodrigo Nogueira Armbar’s Bob Sapp
The Armbar by Nogueira was beautiful thing to behold, it came after a full ten minutes of abuse via the hands of “Big” Bob Sapp. A weary Bob Sapp could do nothing but tap when Nogueira locked in the arm that was by all accounts as big as his thighs.

Honorable Mention goes to

Ryan Gracie over Shungo Oyama
A sneaky armbar submission in the corner of the ring was slapped on with bad intentions as Gracie seriously dislocated Oyama’s arm causing what could have been permanent damage. Oyama didn’t tap, but his arm did.

Dokonjonosuke Mishima over Takafumi Ito
As sudden as Jean Claude Van Damme’s carreer was this submission that left Ito with no recourse but to tap at just 53 seconds of the first stanza.

Part 1 is HERE...
Part 2 is HERE...
Part 3 is HERE...
Part 4 is HERE...
Part 5 is HERE...

If youhave agree or disagree with any of my picks don’t be shy, Yell Holler and let me know about it.flame away.

For MMAringreport this was "The Sushiboy" Arnold Lim
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